Hayfork



June 28,1927. 1,634,137

H. S. COLEMAN HAY FORK Filed Nov. 4, 1926 Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES? 1,634,13 FATE-NIT OFF HARRY S; COLEMAN, OF DAYTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAYFORK.

Application filed November 4,,1926. Serial 'No. 146,204.

tions, the most common one of these being known as the Nellis fork.

I have found in respect to these forks andparticularly the Nellis fork, that the life of, a fork is very short due to the construction of the locking feature which is such that becauseof the great pressure or; weight oaths-locking mechanism, the parts of this mechanism become badly worn. and eventually reach the stage where they, are no longer operable, which necessitates the purchase of a. new fork.

Having this point in mind, I have invented an improved locking. mechanism for hay forks which will withstand the wear. and pressure-to. which the parts are subj-ected.

The primary object of. the invention is the provision of an improved locking and releasing mechanism for hay forks.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved locking and releasing mechanismfor hay forks which is simple of construction. and highly efficient in operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a, locking and, releasing device for hay .forks which is simple of constructionand cheap to manufacture;

Other objectsand. improved results of the invention will? appear from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1- isa view inside elevation of a fork having embodied therein my improved locking mechanism, the fork or. elevating prongs being shown in locked position.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the improved invention, the parts being shown in unlocked or tripped position.

It will of course be understood that the present invention relates to a hay fork in which the elevating prongs or barbs are locked in a distended position, by means of apair of jaws, which are soconstructed as to embrace the actuating means of the prongs.

In hay forks of: this class, there is provided a hollow sheath-like case having a pointed lower end (not shown)- for, penetrating the hay, and a. pair of barbs connected with an operating; rod, which extends through the penetrator, and is connected atits upper endto-a. handle. By pushing, down the handle the barbsarethrown out, and by drawing up the handlev they are Withdrawn into the sheath. The barbs may be lockedin either position. When the fork is penetrating,.they are inside the sheath, and when they are thrown out, they engage the hay so that a load may be lifted.

Referring now to the drawings, 5 is a. handle at the head ofthe fork, which is attached to or forms an integral part of. a

center piece 6, the lower end. of which extends down into the tubular rod" or shaft? of the fork and is attached. to the barbs, heretofore mentioned, which project from the lower end. of the tubular rods Pivoted to the shaft 6 as at 8, is a jaw 9 which has an extending portion 10 upinto. the handle or ring 5. Between the center. piece; 6 and the jaw 9' is a vertical opening or slot 11 in which, the rod or pin: which extends across and suspends the tubular shaft 7, rests. At each. end of. this opening, or slot 11 there is provided a round hole, these holes being designated. by the numerals 12 and 13, of a shapedesignedto receive and support the cross rod. of the tubular shaft, While the fork has only two positions, namely. opened or. closed. I

When the fork is made to, penetrate a load of hay for the purpose ofsecuring. a hold in. the same prior. to elevating it, the suspending shaft ofv the. fork is positioned Within. the lower hole 12, andwhen the fork has penetrated. the load, the jaw 9 is opened, and the handle is pushed down .into the tubular penetrating rod for the purpose of throwing out the barbs.

This action causes the supporting shaft or rodv to ascend. to the upper hole 13, atwhich time the jaws are caused to be locked. The fork with. its load. of. hay is then. raised to the loft. by means of. a block and pulley or. some similar mechanism having attachmentwith the ring 5,. and when at the proper place for discharging, the jaw 9 is tripped and opened, and permits the tubular shaft to descend, thereby withdrawing the barbs and releasing the load which then drops off of the fork.

For the purpose of. actuating the tubular shaft,there isv provided a cross bar or han die 14.

The construction heretofore defined is one .which is common to hay forks now in use.

- which is pivotally connected as at 21 into the trip handle and positioned so that its end will abut the shoulder 22 of the jaw piece 10 when the fork is in locked position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. r coil spring 23 carried within a suitable bore 9A in a boss 25 at the inner side of the ring 5 has one end held in engagement wit-h the upper edge of the bolt bar 20 by being dis posed around and over an upwardly extending pin 26 carried by the bar. This coil spring tends to normally hold the bolt bar down with its end engaging the portion 10 of the pivoted jaw 9 as clearly appears in Figure 1.

Attention is directed to the fact that the pivotal connection of the bolt bar with the ring is above the pivotal connection of this bar with the trip handle so that when the fork is in locked position the bolt bar is in a position past dead center in respect to the load carried by the fork.

To trip or release the locking mechanism it is merely necessary to pull upon the trip rope 17 and thereby swing the trip handle downwardly, thus elevating the inner end of the bolt bar and breaking engagement between the bolt bar and the portion 10 of the pivoted jaw. This action is of course against the tension of the coil spring 28.

l/Vit-h a locking mechanism of this character, I have found that there is very little wear and that the locking mechanism is extremely efiicient in operation due to the fact that the bolt bar is below dead center when the fork is in locked position.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A locking mechanism for the jaws of a hay fork, comprising a trigger mounted upon the end of one jaw member, a ring carried by the other aw member, a bolt bar pivotally connected to the trigger and the ring, and the end of said bar adapted to engage one jaw member, for the purpose described.

2. A locking mechanism for the jaws of a hay fork, comprising a trigger mounted upon an upwardly extending end of one jaw member, a ring carried by the other jaw member, a bolt bar pivotally connected to the trigger, said bolt bar having pivotal connection with the ring at a point above the upwardly extending end of said jaw member, and the end of said' bar adapted to abut said upwardly extending jaw portion, whereby said bar assumes a position below dead center when locking the jaws in closed position.

3. A locking mechanism for the jaws of a hay fork in which one of said jaw mem hers i pivotally mounted, comprising a trigger mounted upon an upwardly extending portion of the pivoted jaw member, a ring carried upon the upper end of the other jaw member, a bolt bar having pivotal connection with the trigger adjacent one end, the other end of the bar having pivotal connection with the ring at a point above said pivoted jaw extending portion, the end of the bar adjacent the trigger adapted to abut the pivoted jaw extending portion, and resilient means for normally holding the bolt bar in engagement with the jaw member.

1. In a hay fork, a pair of jaw members, one jaw member provided at its upper end with a handle, the other jaw member provided with an extending portion into said handle, a trigger having pivotal connection adjacent one end with the said extending portion, a bolt bar having pivotal connection adjacent one end with the opposite end of the trigger, the opposite end of the bolt bar having pivotal connection with the handle at a point above the extending end of the jaw member, the bolt bar end having connection with the trigger adapted to abut the extending end of the jaw member, and resilient means carried by said handle and adapted to normally hold the bolt bar in engagement with the jaw member.

5. A locking mechanism for the jaws of a hay fork, comprising a trigger and a bolt bar having pivotal connection, the trigger being pivotally mounted upon one of the jaw members, the bolt bar having pivotal connection with the other jaw member, said pivotal connection of the bolt bar being at a point above the end of the jaw member carrying the trigger, said bolt bar adapted to assume a position below dead center with one end abutting the end of the jaw member carrying the trigger, and means for normally holding the bar and trigger in said position.

6. A locking mechanism for the jaws of a hay fork, comprising a trigger and a bolt bar having pivotal connection one with the other, and the bolt bar adapted to assume a position below dead center and abut one jaw member for locking the jaws in a closed position.

7 A locking mechanism for the jaws of ahay fork, comprising a lock comprising a trigger mounted upon one jaw member,

a bolt bar pivotally connected to the trigger and to the other jaw member, and the end of said bar adapted to engage one jaw member, for the purpose described.

8. A locking mechanism for the jaws of a hay fork, comprising a trigger mounted upon one jaw member, a handle carried by the other jaw member, a locking bar pivotally connected to the trigger and the handle, and the end of said bar adapted to engage one jaw member, for the purpose described.

9. A locking mechanism for the jaws of a hay fork, comprising a trigger mounted upon an upwardly extending end of one jaw member, a handle carried by the other jaw member, a locking bar pivotally connected to the trigger and having pivotal connection with the handle at a point above the upwardly extending end of said jaw member, and the end of said bar adapted to abut said upwardly extending jaw portion, whereby said bar assumes a position below dead center when looking the jaws in closed position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

HARRY S. COLEMAN. 

